Week 5 Flashcards
What is a heart murmur?
The audible manifestation of turbulent blood flow within—or immediately adjacent to—the cardiac chambers or great vessels.
Turbulence arises from increased flow velocity or disruption of the normal laminar stream due to anatomic or hemodynamic factors.
What causes turbulence in blood flow leading to murmurs?
Turbulence can arise from:
* High-velocity flow through a narrow orifice (e.g., aortic stenosis)
* Flow across an abnormal communication (e.g., ventricular septal defect)
* Regurgitant flow through incompetent valves (e.g., mitral regurgitation)
* Increased flow states (e.g., anemia, fever, thyrotoxicosis)
These conditions create eddies that generate vibrations, producing an audible sound.
How does inspiration affect left-sided murmurs?
Decreases intensity due to reduced left ventricular filling.
This occurs because inspiration decreases intrathoracic pressure and increases venous return to the right heart.
How does inspiration affect right-sided murmurs?
Increases intensity due to increased right ventricular output (Carvallo’s sign).
The increase in venous return to the right heart during inspiration enhances right-sided murmur sounds.
What effect does expiration have on left-sided murmurs?
Increases intensity due to increased left ventricular filling.
Expiration increases intrathoracic pressure, leading to increased venous return to the left heart.
What effect does expiration have on right-sided murmurs?
Decreases intensity due to reduced right ventricular preload.
This is a result of the increased intrathoracic pressure during expiration.
What is the effect of the Valsalva maneuver on murmurs?
Decreases intensity of most murmurs (especially AS, MR) due to reduced venous return to both ventricles.
The Valsalva maneuver reduces venous return, impacting the sound intensity of murmurs.
What happens to left-sided murmurs during the release of the Valsalva maneuver?
Transiently increases intensity.
The sudden increase in venous return and afterload during the release phase affects murmur intensity.
What happens to right-sided murmurs during the release of the Valsalva maneuver?
Transiently increases intensity.
Similar to left-sided murmurs, the increase in venous return affects the intensity of right-sided murmurs.
What effect does isometric handgrip have on regurgitant murmurs?
Increases intensity of regurgitant murmurs (MR, AR, VSD).
Isometric handgrip increases systemic vascular resistance (afterload), impacting murmur sounds.
What effect does isometric handgrip have on stenotic murmurs?
Decreases intensity of stenotic murmurs (AS, HCM).
The increase in afterload during isometric handgrip affects the intensity of stenotic murmurs.
What effect does isometric handgrip have on tricuspid regurgitation (TR)?
Increases intensity due to more regurgitation.
The increased afterload enhances the sound of the regurgitant flow.
What is the mechanism of the third heart sound (S₃)?
Rapid deceleration of blood against the compliant ventricular wall during early diastole
Occurs during the rapid-filling phase of the heart cycle.
When is S₃ considered normal?
In children and young adults (< 40 years) at physiologic heart rates
It is a normal finding in younger populations.
What does the presence of S₃ indicate in patients aged ≥ 40 years?
Ventricular volume overload or reduced compliance
Examples include dilated cardiomyopathy and post-myocardial infarction.
What is the mechanism of the fourth heart sound (S₄)?
Atrial contraction ejects blood against a noncompliant, hypertrophied, or ischemic ventricle in late diastole
This is referred to as the ‘atrial kick’.
When is S₄ considered pathologic?
Always pathologic
It indicates conditions of reduced ventricular compliance.
List conditions associated with S₄.
- Left ventricular hypertrophy
- Aortic stenosis
- Ischemic heart disease
What is the timing and shape of aortic stenosis (AS) murmur?
Systolic, crescendo–decrescendo (“diamond-shaped”)
It is best heard at the right upper sternal border.
Where is mitral regurgitation (MR) murmur best heard?
Apex
It radiates to the left axilla.
What happens to the mitral regurgitation (MR) murmur with handgrip?
Increases
This maneuver increases systemic vascular resistance.
Describe the murmur associated with mitral stenosis (MS).
Diastolic, low-frequency “rumble” with opening snap, early diastolic accentuation
Best heard at the apex in left lateral decubitus position.
What effect does expiration have on mitral stenosis (MS) murmur?
Increases
It decreases with Valsalva maneuver.
What is the location for aortic regurgitation (AR) murmur?
Left sternal border (3rd–4th ICS)
It is characterized by an early diastolic, decrescendo “blowing” sound.